Ferry sinks off the coast of Cyprus, 8 dead and 18 missing; crew detained

Eight people have died and 18 others remain missing after a passenger ferry capsized and sank off the coast of Cyprus yesterday.

When it began taking on water, the ferry had 259 passengers and eight crew members on board. According to the authorities, the incident occurred shortly after it departed from the coastal city of Kyrenia on Sunday, at around 12:30 p.m. local time.

Most of the people on board have been rescued. A large-scale search-and-rescue operation, carried out in cooperation with the Turkish authorities, is continuing in the area of the incident.

Helicopters and coast guard vessels have been deployed at the scene, while ambulances have been positioned along the coast to receive survivors.

The authorities have detained the ship’s captain and the seven other crew members. An investigation has also been opened to clarify the circumstances and causes of the tragedy.

Efforts are also underway to recover the ferry’s data recorder, known as the “black box,” which is expected to help determine the cause of the accident.